Real is really just trying to confuse the issue and get media attention.

What they’re claiming is bogus anyway. To convert Real tracks to load onto your ipod – burn them to a CD and then load using any of 6 formats – slightly more work but hardly oppressive.

So, there’s no really ‘lock’ anywhere preventing REAL users from also using their ipod.

The reality is that it’s only LOCKED if YOU don’t want to unlock it. At any point, if Apple stops selling AAC files, you can convert it a CD that will play on BILLIONS of devices worldwide!

Then what is “Harmony” really doing except creating ‘disharmony,’ doubt and trying to ride on the coat-tails of all the work Apple has done?

Basically, Apple has set valet parking in their mall. As a consumer, there are advantages and disadavantages to valet parking as with buying tracks from the itunes music store but like valet parking, if convenience over-rides your other decisions, then convenience it is.

Real has decided that to set a competing valet service within Apple’s parking lot – in the real world, it would be a quick settlement on property rights and right-of-way … in the digital world, because people are less likely to see the larger picture, it’s easier for Real to cloud the issue. In the valet parking situation, if Real tries to set up on someone else’s property and cries restraint of trade – that would be easy to dispute.

Just for the record, my comment was based on a very quick analysis of the Harmony software and not on the comment by the Real codec engineer.

“If this is the case, can Apple simply update the iPod software to cut out Harmony?”

There is currently more than one way for Apple to distinguish a Harmony FairPlay file from an Apple FairPlay file. Apple will probably release an iPod firmware which disables playback of Harmony v1 PlayFair files, RealNetworks will respond with an update to Harmony which works around Apple’s changes – and around we go.

How often can Apple afford to issue firmware updates? If they don’t have any new features or improvements in the pipeline, will they release a firmware update with nothing new but Harmony blocking?